In
a deck of playing cards, you will find four images of a king. The
first is the king of clubs. A club is a weapon that can be used to
harm another person. A club is an instrument of a hostile person; an
extension of a violent hand. Jesus cannot be the king of clubs
because he did not come to sow violence. He was a man of peace. He
came so that all of us may learn to treat one another as brothers and
sisters.
The
second is the king of spades. A spade is a shovel; an instrument used
to throw dirt. A spade also can be a symbol of the grave because it
usually is the instrument used for digging. Jesus cannot be the king
of spades because he did not come to make us dirty. He came to
cleanse us from everything that defiles us. Moreover, Jesus cannot be
the king of spades because he did not stay in the grave. Jesus rose
from the dead and he is the Lord of the living.
The
third is the king of diamonds. A diamond
is
an expensive stone; an important piece for the rich and the famous.
Jesus cannot be the king of diamonds because he did not come to own
the world and its possessions. He came to share our poverty and to
teach us how to be generous. Jesus provided for the needy and
consoled the brokenhearted.
If
Jesus is neither king of clubs, spades and diamonds, then he only can
be the king of hearts. Jesus is our king of hearts because he came to
love us. He is a king with the heart of a good shepherd. He knows
his sheep by heart. He calls them by name. He leads them to green
pasture. And he is willing to risk his life for his sheep. Jesus is a
king with a forgiving heart, rich in patience and full of mercy. He
is willing to search for the lost sheep, to leave the ninety-nine for
the one who is lost. And he always is happy for every sheep counted
back, for one repentant sinner. The heart of this King is sacred
because it is Dives
Misercordia,
rich in mercy.
If
Jesus is our king of hearts, then we cannot be Christians of clubs.
We need to stop abusing and hurting anyone. We need to end the cycle
of violence around us. We must not think of getting even with others
who have hurt us. Revenge is never a Christian option.
If
Jesus is our king of hearts, then we cannot be Christians of spades.
We have to stop throwing dirt to one another. Let us stop our
gossiping, our backbiting — the malicious acts of destroying
others’ good reputation.
If
Jesus is our king of hearts, then we cannot be Christians of
diamonds. We must not allow money and material possessions to enslave
us. We must not allow our wealth to stop us from becoming good
Christians. We rather place our full trust in the goodness of the
Lord.
If
Jesus is our king of hearts, then every one of us must have a sacred
heart. Our hearts have to beat with the heart of Jesus. Our hearts
also must be warm, tender, compassionate, patient, forgiving and rich
in kindness.
[This
is an adaptation of the homily of Bishop Socrates B. Villegas
entitled “King of Hearts”]
